Vilnius Takes on Beijing
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been an advocate of reducing European dependence on China (Wikimedia Commons).
The time has come for the European Union to take concrete measures to reduce its commercial dependence on China, argued Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on October 9 at an informal gathering of the European Council in Slovenia.
“Given that we see increased aggressiveness on the part of China, its stronger wish to dictate its own terms and, of course, to play a bigger role in the world,” Gitanas told his peer leaders, the European Union “shall act quickly and decisively” and “reduce its dependence from China in various aspects.”
In his remarks, Nauseda articulated concern that a sustained reliance on Chinese exports leaves the EU vulnerable in times of crisis and susceptible to economic aggression from Beijing. Europe’s relatively slow rate of manufacturing development, when compared with that of the Chinese, could leave it with few alternative sources of necessary goods in a pinch. He pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused significant delays and disruptions to global supply chains, as evidence.
“Of course,” he explained, “the pandemic has shown our dependence with respect to production chains. I have no doubts that China would certainly use such a bargaining chip in certain circumstances.”
Nauseda’s statements come amid a series of recent actions by Vilnius to resist perceived coercion by Beijing. The decline in relations between the two states began in May, with Lithuania’s decision to pull out of China’s 17 + 1 economic forum, designed to foster cooperation with Eastern and Central Europe. In leaving, the Lithuanians labeled the pact “divisive.”
Lithuanian leaders also expressed cybersecurity concerns. In September, Lithuania's National Cyber Security Centre urged its citizens to dispose of phones produced by the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi. Lithuanian intelligence determined that these contain inert censorship software that Chinese firms could activate remotely without a user’s knowledge that detects key phrases including “Free Tibet” and “democracy movement.”
Vilnius has also waded into the debate over Taiwanese sovereignty. This September, Lithuania confirmed that a diplomatic office in its national capital would operate under the name “Taiwanese Representative Office.” China has long considered Taiwan a part of Chinese sovereign territory rather than an independent state.
In another sign of warming relations between Vilnius and Taipei, the former announced a donation of 235,900 additional doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine against COVID-19. Taiwanese leaders responded enthusiastically, with the representative office in Latvia taking to Facebook to express "heartfelt gratitude" for Lithuania's "dedicated support for fellow democracies in need like Taiwan."
China has responded assertively to these actions, recalling its ambassador to Vilnius while demanding Lithuania do the same to its representative in Beijing.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has voiced support for Lithuania, a NATO ally. Following the withdrawal, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held a call with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. According to a White House statement, the two officials spoke of “affirming the strength of [their] bilateral ties.”